Our last poll was dominated by two players, Sergio Aguero and Dele Alli, who garnered more than half of all votes.
This latest run-down is set to be another close call, with two Golden Boot-chasing strikers looking like stand-out captaincy picks for their favourable home encounters in Gameweek 33.
Romelu Lukaku’s (10.4) sensational form in front of his own fans carried on at the weekend, with his brace against Leicester City meaning he has scored 12 goals in his last seven Goodison Park encounters and 23 in total this season – more than any other player.
Next up is a visit from a Burnley side that has conceded 30 times and kept just three clean sheets in their 16 league road trips, which should ensure the 45.4% owned Belgian is among this week’s frontrunners.
Prior to a three-match injury lay-off, Harry Kane (11.3) was also on a hot streak, finding the net six times between Gameweeks 24 and 27 to bring his season total to 19.
With a promising 30-minute run-out under his belt in Tottenham’s 4-0 rout of Watford on Saturday, he looks primed for interest for the visit of an obliging Bournemouth defence to White Hart Lane this weekend – the Cherries have shipped 14 goals and kept just one clean sheet in their last six away matches.
Already more than 36,000 FPL managers have brought in the England striker and his 9.6% ownership is set to rise further before the next deadline.
But while Kane looks likely to be the main attraction among Mauricco Pochetinno’s troops, Spurs’ midfield trio of Dele Alli (9.1), Christian Eriksen (8.8) and Son Heung-min (8.4) are others likely to feature prominently.
Against Watford, Son was outstanding, with a 19-point haul from two goals, an assist and maximum bonus returns. Should he be retained in the starting XI to support Kane as expected, the South Korean looks a strong bet to add to his 11 goals for the campaign. Since Saturday he is the most bought asset, with more than 53,000 new FPL managers.
Alli also got on the scoresheet, bagging his 16th goal of the season against the Hornets, while his Danish team-mate also demands attention with five goals and nine assists in front of his own fans.
Sergio Aguero (12.8), who pipped Alli to the summit of Gameweek 32’s poll by just 2% of the vote, also looks an enticing armband option ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Southampton. The Argentine’s strike against Hull City on Saturday was his fifth in six starts. The Saints, however, have proved resilient at home in recent weeks, with two clean sheets in their last four St Mary’s encounters.
In addition, the City marksman has not been an explosive option of late, with his last double-digit FPL points haul coming in Gameweek 13.
Liverpool’s fatigued Brazilian duo, Philippe Coutinho (8.4) and Roberto Firmino (8.6), were preserved away at Stoke City, but with a goal apiece from the bench, they are among other strong candidates in our poll’s chasing pack.
They take on a West Brom side incapable of keeping a clean sheet at The Hawthorns of late, with their last shut-out on home turf arriving against Stoke in Gameweek 24.
A trip to Middlesbrough would have ensured Alexis Sanchez (11.6) competed for the summit – if it had taken place earlier this season when he was fielded as a central striker. But being stranded on Arsenal’s left wing over his last four matches has curtailed his threat markedly and he’s scored just once across that period. Potential backers will be keeping a close eye on the 26.8%-owned Chilean’s performance at Crystal Palace tonight to see if he can revive his output.
Theo Walcott (7.4) and Mesut Ozil (9.4) are two more Gunners’ assets that will be closely monitored at Selhurst Park after impressing in recent matches. The German playmaker has registered a goal and assist in his last two, while Waclott has two strikes over the same period.
Both are also strong differential options, given they have an ownership base below 10%.
Interest in Chelsea duo Diego Costa (10.5) and Eden Hazard (10.3), as well as Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.4), is likely to be tempered when they face each other in a tricky clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This could see some voters instead decide to back a differential, with Troy Deeney (6.9) among the best options as he prepares to host a Swansea City side that has conceded 10 goals in their last six. The 7%-owned Hornets’ talisman has scored four in as many home starts and being reduced to a bench role against Spurs on Saturday should mean he’s well-rested for the Swans’ visit.
The Captain Poll is now live in the middle column on your homepage on desktop, or via the slide-in menu on mobile and tablet under Recent Comments.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later ahead of the Gameweek 33 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article, offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
7 years, 18 days ago
Lukaku